Relationships Matter: A Former LinkedIn Employee’s Views on Professional Networking
The most important principle I learned as a LinkedIn employee over 12 years that I still apply today
What was the most important principle I learned over the 12 years as an employee at LinkedIn?
It’s simple: “Relationships Matter.”
Yes, it’s about professional networking and community. I still believe in this core value of “Relationships Matter” and apply it in my current work and life today.
All sorts of wonderful things happen when people trust and support each other in community.
- Project collaborations
- New opportunities
- Valuable lessons
No big business idea can turn into reality unless there’s a community behind it, supported by one’s professional network.
I’ve seen how professional relationships can flourish within a company, and extend into the industry and beyond. It requires real people. Not AI.
That’s why even as an introvert, I’ve now cultivated these networking habits:
- Set time each Friday to reach out to new and existing contacts
- Prioritize face-to-face meetings to fortify relationships
- Stay engaged online to sustain those valuable connections
I’m grateful that the professional networking habits that I had learned while at LinkedIn can continue with me today.
Take a Behind-the-Scenes Peek in My Networking
Recently, I reconnected with Tommy Beal, a talented videographer in the San Francisco Bay Area. For me, I learned from him about the craft of making commercial videos. For him, he said he learned more about the corporate world from me.
Our in-person coffee chat meeting resulted in Tommy volunteering for an upcoming event I’m hosting. We’ll also look for additional ways to collaborate in the future too. A win-win scenario for all.
I appreciate that Tommy, as a young professional and a natural connector, also talked about our meeting in the first 2 minutes of his weekly behind-the-scenes vlog on YouTube for his audience.
As you see, “Relationships Matter” is not just for LinkedIn employees, but for all professionals.
My Authority Magazine Interview on Successful Networking
I’m carrying on to share my lessons from LinkedIn on “Relationship Matters” to broader audiences. For the topic of professional networking, Authority Magazine recently interviewed me for my 5 strategies for successful networking.
I’ll share a brief video summary of my response here, and then you can read the full interview in Authority Magazine’s story linked below.
My 5 Strategies For Successful Professional Networking
- Don’t expect anything in return.
- Research on LinkedIn before going to big events.
- Take a photo when meeting people in person.
- Touch base with your professional contacts at least once per year.
- Be part of a community.
For the full interview, see the story published in Authority Magazine:
Final Thoughts
Professional networking requires people skills, particularly leadership and teamwork. As I previously wrote in my story on My Top 5 Skills to Future-Proof My Career, leadership and teamwork are critically needed skills that remain AI-proof.
People trust people. Authenticity matters. AI can’t replace these human EQ and relational skills for leadership and teamwork.
I’ve learned from working at LinkedIn to think big and to value professional relationships. And I think of my professional network as my “extended” team in the world.
I hope you, as my reader, can be part of my “extended team” where we can collaborate to even greater outcomes than we can individually.
After all, “Relationships Matter.”